Dr. Catherine Zucker

Biography

Catherine Zucker is an Astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, focusing on developing innovative techniques to explore the 3D structure and dynamics of our galaxy, the Milky Way. She combines observational data, simulations, astrostatistics, and data visualization to produce new models of the Milky Way’s interstellar medium, aiming to establish physically motivated connections between star formation and the broader galactic environment. Her research employs high-performance computing and a technique known as 3D Dust Mapping to analyze stellar photometry and astrometry for charting the spatial distribution of interstellar dust in the Milky Way. With a strong emphasis on open-data sharing, she is particularly interested in the publication of interactive visualizations in academic journals, facilitating wider access to her findings. Zucker received her PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from Harvard University in 2020, where she was recognized as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and a Harvard Horizons Scholar. Her educational background also includes a Master of Arts from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy-Physics and History from the University of Virginia.

Research Interests

Experience